Ogun Govt sacks 6 officials over anti-Amosun’s exam question

Ogun State government has dismissed four officers of the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology while two others were retired compulsorily over an alleged offensive examination question.
Mrs. Folashade Oresegun (Director, Education Support Services) and Deacon Rotimi Ganiyu Odunsi (Director, Curriculum Development and Evaluation); who were on grade level 17 were forced to retire.
Sacked officers included Grade Level 16 officer, Majekodunmi Oluwole; a Grade Level 10 officer, Mr E.O. Asegbe (Desk Officer); a Grade Level 8 officer, Taylor Damilola (Proof-reader), and an English Language teacher in Mayflower Secondary School in Ikenne, Mr Joel Adegbenro.
It was gathered that their dismissal might not be unconnected with ‎a section of the English Language examination question conducted by the ministry for Unified Examinations in Public Secondary Schools for the third term 2014/2015 academic session which was considered offensive and critical of the state government.
The section of the examination partly ‎reads: “There is no arguing about the fact that the government is merely paying lip service to the development of education. It is true that a lot of money is being spent on the education sector but with little or no impact felt by the people, except where we want to deceive ourselves.
“Many schools run by the government, which were formerly known for academic excellence, have suddenly lost their prestige and are living on past glories. No wonder, many parents and guardians are threatening and left with only one option, to withdraw their wards from these schools to other ones that are better managed.
“The evidences to show that‎ the government is not doing enough to assist in the development of education are many. Even pupils in both primary and secondary schools can volunteer a good list on their finger tips.
“Another one is the regular poor conduct of terminal examinations. These examinations are not usually conducted as at when due… Thus, a situation, where for instance, the first term examination is shifted to second term is an outright departure from the norms and ethics of Continuous Assessment.”
Governor Ibikunle Amosun and top government functionaries were allegedly miffed by the question against the civil service rule.
The government has however justified the decision to dismiss the officers, saying due process was followed to the latter.
Speaking with Journalists yesterday on the matter, the state Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Adekunle, explained that a panel which was setup indicted the officers and recommended appropriate punishment.
She said, “I am aware that not all of them were dismissed, some were terminated, some compulsorily retired. When the issue came up the state government put in the necessary process, a panel was setup to investigate and based on their recommendations, the Civil Service Commission has to decide; it is a decision that has been relayed to the affected officers.
“The normal process was that a panel was setup, the report forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for the civil servants, the Teaching Service Commission, for the teachers. The decision was in line with the civil service rule; due process was followed to the latter.”